5 Best Hotels in Samoa

The legendary lodging of the South Pacific, Aggie Grey's has hosted celebrities including Marlon Brando, Gary Cooper, and William Holden—along with many lesser mortals in the decades since it was established in 1933. Entrepreneur Grey (1897–1988) made a name for herself selling hotdogs and hamburgers to U.S. servicemen in Apia during WWII, and the hotel grew bit by bit. The 26 individual bungalows at the rear of the building each bear the name of a famous guest, from Cheryl Ladd to Raymond Burr. Today the hotel, on Apia harbor, has expanded with a presidential suite with a huge terrace, a colonial wing whose rooms all have balconies and overlook the harbor, and hibiscus rooms, which sleep four and are ideal for families. The Kionasina Cocktail lounge is just as popular as the bar Aggie ran in the 1940s, while the three restaurants do a brisk trade with locals and visitors alike. There's live music on weekends, and the Wednesday Fia Fia night (a cultural and fire-dance performance) is a must.

This beachside resort is at Faleolo, a five-minute drive from the airport on the island's northwest coast. Opened in 2005 with an aim toward families, the property has 140 rooms, including many with connecting doors, all with ocean views and capacity for four guests. The resort (which is about 45 minutes' drive from Apia, and the other famous Aggie Grey's hotel) has five restaurants, a huge pool, a free kids club for children, a watersports center with kayaks, catamarans, and snorkeling and diving equipment. Rates, which the hotel quotes in New Zealand dollars, include full breakfast, airport transfers, and a shuttle into Apia, along with use of all nonmotorized sports equipment. The spa's luxurious treatments include the two-hour "full body cocoon" massage, using banana, papaya, Samoan organic honey, and essentials oils.

Notable for having a gecko-shaped swimming pool (the creature's tail wraps around the swim-up bar), Coconuts is a lovely retreat at Si'umu Bay, on Samoa's beautiful southern coast. Built by owners Barry and Jennifer Rose, who escaped the fast-lane as Hollywood-based lawyers, Coconuts was almost washed away in the tsunami of 2009. Today, after extensive renovations, it's reopened its fale doors and has three two-room Coco Suites complete with romantic lava-rock waterfall showers, eight "treehouse" rooms decorated with bamboo four-poster beds, and seven beach fales. Construction of six over-water bungalows began in September 2012. Rates include treats from the mini-bar stocked with wine, beer, and soft drinks, airport transfers and bus tickets for a trip into Apia, and entry to the Saturday Samoan cultural day. Meal plans are available for the two restaurants. Activities include yoga, use of outrigger canoes, snorkeling, and kayaking.

This peaceful resort at Si'umu Bay is on the island's lovely south coast, home to Samoa's best beaches. There are no children's facilities, as the resort does not take guests under 12 years old, but there's plenty for adults, including two lovely restaurants, a spa, tennis courts, and a 9-hole golf course. There are three grades of fale (bungalow): garden, oceanview, and beachfront; the latter have large private terraces inches from the sea. The top-level executive and presidential suites comprise two and three fales, respectively, connected by covered timber walkways. The hotel organizes village walks to learn about local culture and will escort guests to Sunday church services, an experience worth undertaking to see locals in their Sunday best clothing and hear lovely choir harmonies.

Those wishing to stay in the center of town appreciate Tanoa Tusitala for its position near the harbor and the fact that it's set on 15 acres of luxuriant gardens. The hotel's recent renovation treated all 95 rooms to a smart refurbishment; walls and floors are white and contrasted with tropical bedspreads and cushions and polished-timber furniture. The double deluxe rooms with two double beds, a bathroom, and a separate dressing room are perfect for families, and all rooms open onto either a balcony or private patio. The Tamarind restaurant serves meals throughout the day, while the poolside deck bar is a good bet for snacks and pizza. Although a city hotel, the Tanoa has resort facilities, including a swimming pool, children's pool, tennis courts, and free parking.